OI Pomodoro Nord Italia: 131 contracts filed for the 2021 harvest

131 contracts for the cultivation and supply of processing tomatoes have been concluded between agricultural producers' organizations (POs) and industrial processing companies, and filed with the Interbranch Organization OI Pomodoro da Industria del Nord Italia for the 2021 season.

“The surface areas under contract,” commented IO President Tiberio Rabboni, “are an expression of the balance between the demand from processing companies and the supply from producers’ organizations, and thus represent the 2021 production planning objective. In northern Italy, the surfaces to be planted with tomatoes have increased by a few points (3.9%) compared to those under contract last year, due to the need to rebuild industrial stocks, which are currently exhausted due to the exceptional demand during the confinement period and to the continued growth in demand for organic processed products.”

Planting operations began at the end of March in the hope that weather conditions will prove to be favorable. By 30 June, the areas actually cultivated will be compared with the objectives set out in the contracts drawn up between the POs and the processing companies. Another check will then be carried out at the end of October to assess compliance of the quantities produced with those contracted.

“So the most significant data,” confirmed Rabboni, “lies in the confirmation of the production planning method. The signing of the framework agreement on time, along with serious planning, is to the advantage of the whole system because this approach guarantees that agricultural and industrial partners will have access to essential supplies and benefit from the anticipated valuation of products, taking into account real market demand. All of this is all the more important in the current context of permanent and rapid change, such as the situation generated by the Covid health crisis.”

Source: OI Pomodoro Nord Italia